Liquid dispenser



Dec. 21, 1948.

F. H. KRETSCHMER ETAL LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Nov. 18, 1944 5049 .f/ 2 l 46% I -/2 Patented Dec. 21, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUID DISPENSER Application November 18, 1944, Serial No. 564,040

3 Claims. l

This invention relates to improvements in liquid dispensers and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. The invention is more especially concerned with liquid dispensers oi the kind that include a base, a standard rising therefrom and supporting a liquid reservoir at its top end. In certain dispensers of this kind a piston or plunger type of pump is disposed in the reservoir and is operated through means disposed in the standard and in turn foot actuated by means carried by the base. Dispensers of this kind soon leak at the pump due to the wear in the parts thereof so that the liquid runs down the standard and produces an unsanitary condition about the dispenser. Such dispensers must then be serviced and this requires shipping the entire dispenser back to the factory and then a return to the user.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a dispenser of this kind which will largely prevent leakage at the pump.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of this kind that embodies a pump including a exible operating member having a sealed connection with the reservoir instead of a reciprocating piston or plunger, which due to wear after a period of use, lets the liquid leak past the same.

Again, it is an object of the invention to provide a construction in which part of the pump and reservoir will be a common member, thereby reducing the number of parts and cost of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of this kind wherein the reservoir may be readily removed from the standard, without the necessity of making a manual disconnection between the contained pump and its actuating mechanism. I

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a dispenser of this kind which is of a simple construction for low cost production and which will give trouble-free, leakproof service overa long period of time.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others, together with the advantages thereof will more fully appear as the specifica* tion proceeds.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of a liquid dispenser embodying the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View through the .reservoir and associated top end part of the dis-n (Cl. Z22- 179) penser on a scale considerably enlarged over that of Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the improved dispenser includes in general a base 5, an upright standard 6 and a liquid holding reservoir l. The base 5 is preferably made as a hollow casting of a somewhat flat frustro conical cross section and has an open bottom of relatively large diameter to provide a good stability therefor. In one side of the base is an opening 8 and depending from the central portion of the top of the base is an annular flange 9 in which the bottom end of the standard 6 has threaded engagement. Said standard 6 is preferably a metallic tube.

As shown, the reservoir includes Ametallic top and bottom members ID and II respectively with a tubular body I2 therebetween preferably made of transparent material such as glass.

The member I I is provided at bottom end with a boss I3 that has a snug but removable fit in the top end of the standard and which is locked in place therein as by the screw I4 shown in Fig. 2. Said member II is provided at its top end with a radial seat I5 and with an upstanding annular flange I6 to receive the bottom end of the tubular body I2, a compressible sealing gasket I'l being disposed upon the seat and in turn being engaged by the bottom edge of said body. In the bottoni member II, in a plane below the radial seat I5 is a second radial seat I8 of smaller diameter and below and inside of said seat I8 is a cavity I2. A central bore 20 in the boss I3 opens at its top end into the cavity and its bottom end is ared outwardly as at 2|` in Fig. 2.

A exible member 22, preferably in the form of a diaphragm, made from a suitable elastomer such as synthetic rubber, is marginally engaged upon the seat I8 and closes the top of the cavity I9.

23 indicates a dome-like pump cylinder that includes annular side wall 24 of a diameter approximating that of the top end of the cavity I8, a top wall 25 and a radial flange 26 that engages upon the marginal part of the diaphragm engaged on the seat I8. Screws 26a, pass through said flange and said marginal part of the diaphragm and are threaded into the bottom member il. When said screws are drawn up tight the flange 25 securely clamps the marginal part of the diapliragm in leak-proof engagement upon the seat I8.

On the central upper surface portion of the diaphragm is a metaldisc Z'Ihaving a central boss 28. A screw 29 has threaded engagement in said v,boss and its at fhead 30 engages they lower Y surface portion of the diaphragm and is disposed in the cavity I9. The disc 21 and screw head 30 provided a backing for the central portion of the diaphragm. A spring 3| is disposed in the cylinder to fit about the boss 28. Said spring engages at its bottom end upon the disc 21 and engages at its top end against the top wall 25 of the cylinder. This spring urges the diaphragm `to -ex downwardly from the plane of its margin `that is engaged upon the seat I8 to provide the intake stroke for the pump as a whole.

Rising from the top wall 25 of the pump cylinder is a boss 32 formed with upright passage portions 33 and 34 respectively.

The passage portion 33, which is arranged coaxially with the diaphragm 22 is of a diameter smaller than the passage portion 34 and opens into the same by means of a valve seat 35 for a valve closure 35a in the form of a ball. Said boss is also formed with passage portions 36-31 respectively spaced laterally lfrom the passage nects the passage portion 3.1 with the passage lportion 33, as best appears in Fig. 2, The valve 38a constitutes the inlet valve for the vpump chamber and the valve 35a constitutes the outlet valve for said chamber.

The top I0, which vis dome shaped cross sectionally, is provided with a radial yseat 4I and a downwardly extending annular fdange 42, a sealing gasket 43 being disposed against said seat and engaged by the upper 4edge of the tubular 'body I2. Centrally of and depending from said top is a boss 44 having a shouldered bore A45 that opens into a recess 46 of enlarged diameter in the upper central portion of the top. A tension nut 41 is rotatively mounted in the shouldered bore 45 and this nut has threaded engagement with. the top end of a liquid conducting tube 4.8., the bottom end of which is threaded into the upper `end of the passage portion 34 in the boss 3| on the pump l cylinder or chamber 23.y By turning the nut 41 tightly-upon the upper end of the tube, the top Ill is drawn toward the bottom I l and compresses the gaskets l1 and 43 intotight sealing engagement with the end edges of the body I2.

A hollow nut 49 is threaded; into the recess 46 and swivelled vin said nut is the head 59 Vof a liquid discharge tube 5I which, as shown, 'may be of the telescopic type. The head y'30 extends into the interior of the nut 49 and surrounds the upper end oi the tube 48. By reason of the structure described, the tube 5l rswivels in the nut 49 so as to be swung into different angular positions relative to the reservoir 1.` In a part of the top lil is a removable plug 52 whereby the reservoir 1 may be iilled with the ,liquid to be'dispensed.

Disposed in the standard 6 is an actuating rod 53. The upper en-d of this rod has sliding guided bearing in the bore 29, before mentioned, and its upper rounded end extends into the cavity I9 and engages with the head 30 of the screw 29. It is pointed out that the t ofthe rod'53 in 'the bore 23 is such as to permit passage of atmospheric air into saidv cavity so as to prevent the formation of a Vacuous condition therein, which would affect the operation of'the diaphragm 22.

^ `The bottom endv ofthe rod 53is adjustably con-- nected by a nut 54 to a yoke 55 that is pivotally connected as at 5S to one end of a foot actuated lever 58. The other end of this lever extends through the opening 8 in the base and is provided with a foot pedal piece 59. The lever 58 is pivoted at a point between its ends as at 60 to a part depending from the underside of the top of the base. A set screw 6l is threaded in the base and acts as an adjustable stop for the upward movement of that vend of the lever carrying the foot pedal piece 59.

The rod 53, which is disposed axially in the standard, is of a diameter considerably less than vthat of the interior of said standard. Therefore, on the upper end portion of the rod, but below the l boss I3 of the top, a guide collar 62 is xed to said rod to center it in the standard. A helical expansion spring 63 surrounds that part of the rod between the collar 62 and boss I3 and which spring normally urges the rod 53 downwardly. This downward movement of the rod is limited by the engagement of the lever 58 with the screw 6|. In the yoperation of the dispenser, assume that the parts of the pump are in the position shown in Fig. 2 and that a suitable amount of the liquid to be dispensed is within the reservoir 1, that due to previous operations of the dispenser the pump chamber is filled with such liquid, and that a column of such liquid is disposed Within the tube 48 above the valve 35a'. Y f

When the foot piece 59 is depressed by the operators foot, the lever 58 is swung counterclockwise (as in Fig. l) and imparts an upward movement to the rod 53 and compresses the spring S3. In this upward movement of said rod, its upper end through the screw 29 will flex the central portion of the diaphragm 22 upwardly andk through the plane or" its margin and into a position above said plane. This displaces a portion of the liquid in the pump chamber, up through the passage portion 33 causing, through the port 4B and passage portion 31, pressure which forces the valve 38a into a closed position on .its seat 38. The displaced liquid lifts the valve 35d from its seat and flows into tube 48 thereby forcing a like amount of fluid, from tube 43, out the tube 5I. This provides the discharge stroke for the Dump.

When the operator removes the foot from the piece 53, the spring 33 urges the rod 53 downwardly and the spring 3l then functions to return the diaphragm 22 to its normal position as shown in Fig. 2, and this movement of the diaphragm provides the intake or suction stroke for the pump. In this movement of the diaphragm, a subatmospheric pressure condition is inducted in the Dump chamber so that the valve 35a is held closed upon its seat 35 and liquid from the interior of the reservoir enters the passage portion 33 and lifts the valve 38a from its seat 38 and passes through the passage portion 31 and port 4B, through the passage portion 33 and into the pump chamber to again charge the same with/liquid for the next operation of the pump, as before described.

It is to be noted that by reason of the diaphragm 22, which has a tightly sealed engagement upon the seat I8 of the bottom 'l l, liquid cannot leak past the same into the cavity I9 for drainage down the rod 53 into the standard. By drawing the nut 41 tightly upon the tube 48, the gaskets I I and 43 are compressed into a sealed engagement with the end edges of the body l2. There-A fore, the dispenser cannot leak liquid either at the pump'or at the ends of the lbody of the res- SIVOT.-

If it becomes necessary to service the pump or reservoir parts, the screw i4 is removed and then the reservoir 'i as a whole may be removed upwardly from the top end of the standard, leaving the associated end of the rod centralized in the upper end of the standard. In replacing the rcservoir, the iiared end 2i of the bore 20 guides the upper end of the rod 53 into the bore 20, after which the parts may easily be locked in assembled position by replacing the screw I4. By manipulating the nut 54 and the screw 6|, the position of the rod 54 relative to the pump diaphragm may be accurately made for the desired pump displacement per stroke.

While in describing the invention we have referred in detail to the form, construction and arrangement of the parts employed, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that we do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a liquid dispenser, a bottom functioning as part of alreservoir and constituting a support for the remainder of the reservoir, said bottom being provided with a radial seat and a cavity inside of and below said seat, the periphery of said seat being spaced inwardly from the periphery of said bottom, a ilexible diaphragm having its margin engaged upon said seat, a dome-like member having a marginal flange coextensive with and engaged upon the margin of said diaphragm and coacting therewith in forming a pump chamber, means for removably securing said flange and the margin of said diaphragm in a sealed position on said seat so that the domelike member is removable and replaceable as a unit, means providing a valved intake side for said pump chamber and which is in communication with said reservoir, means providing a valved discharge side for said chamber arranged coaxially of the reservoir, liquid discharge means leading upwardly from the valved discharge side of said chamber to a point exteriorly of said reservoir, and means operable in said cavity for flexing the diaphragm.

2. In a liquid dispenser, means functioning as the bottom of a reservoir and constituting the support for the remainder of said reservoir, said means having a radial seat and a cavity inside of and below said seat, a exible diaphragm having its margin engaged upon said seat, a dome-like member having a margin engaged upon the margin of the diaphragm and coacting therewith in forming a pump chamber, means for securing said r margins to and in sealed engagement upon said seat, an upwardly extending boss on said domelike member having an upright passageway therethrough forming a part of the liquid discharge from and a part of the liquid inlet to said chamber, a conduit extending upwardly from the upper end of said upright passageway for the discharge of liquid from said pump chamber to a point exteriorly of the reservoir, there being a lateral passageway in said boss communicating with said upright passageway and the interior of the reservoir respectively and forming the other part of the liquid inlet to said pump chamber, valve mechanism in each passageway for controlling the passage of liquid from the reservoir to said pump chamber and from said pump chamber to said conduit, and means including a portion disposed in said cavity and operative to flex said diaphragm in one direction.

3. In a liquid dispenser, means functioning as the bottom of a reservoir and constituting the support for the remainder of said reservoir, said means having a radial seat and a cavity inside of and below said seat, a Iiexible diaphragm having its margin engaged upon said seat, a domelike member having a margin engaged upon the margin of the diaphragm and coacting therewith in forming a pump chamber, means for securing said margins to and in sealed engagement upon said seat, an upwardly extending boss on said dome-like member having an upright passageway therethrough forming a part of the liquid discharge from and a part of the liquid inlet to said chamber, a conduit extending upwardly from the upper end of said upright passageway for the discharge of liquid from said pump chamber to a point exteriorly of the reservoir, there being a lateral passageway in said boss communicating with said upright passageway and the interior of the reservoir respectively and forming the other part of the liquid inlet to said pump chamber, valve mechanism in each passageway for controlling the passage of liquid from the reservoir to said pump chamber and from said pump chamber to said conduit, a spring in said chamber for flexing the diaphragm downwardly of the chamber, and a member slidable in said bottom and extending into said cavity and operative to flex said diaphragm upwardly of the pump chamber.

FREDERICK H. KRETSCHMER. CHESTER G. FILTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,513,485 Bullard Oct. 28, 1924 1,676,851 Bloodhart July 10, 1928 1,878,220 Willshaw Sept. 20, 1932 1,881,939 Purdy Oct. 11, 1932 1,936,526 Seidel Nov. 21, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 487,553 France Apr. 18, 1918 

